Saturday, January 12, 2013



First photo is Pastor Senusa with his wife and Larry Braak.  This is taken in their church at the village of Dikes.  The pastor took Jean Rony and Larry to visit over thirty of his parish families in their homes.  

Second photo is a street scene on market day in front of Ficilta and Tom Braak's home.  Their home lies behind the red gate on the left.

Third photo is Tom overseeing construction of his family's new home.  All of these were taken during the past 24 hours.

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First photograph is of the Haitian pastor, Senusa talking with FIAI employee and interpreter Jean Rony.  The other photographs are some of the pastor's parishioners.

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David Wenger, my spiritual guide at The Hermitage, sensed what I needed most on my journey was to learn how to be in a state of “holy leisure.”  He sensed this after hearing parts of my spiritual journey and learning of the many goals I had hoped to accomplish during my 10 day stay at the retreat.  I learned that what he meant by this is for one to waste time with God; to rest in Him rather than to rigorously engage in spiritual disciplines as I had planned.

I found this initially to be difficult as I had always prided myself in accomplishments, particularly reading classic books on Christian spirituality.  When I wasn’t doing something I would feel a sense of guilt.  Once I was given permission, however, to ‘waste time’ and just ‘be’ in the presence of God, it came rather easily and I began to really enjoy and look forward to this Presence of the Holy.

As a personality style “nine” on the Enneagram, I have recently learned that my deepest life-long need is to acknowledge and accept that “my presence matters.”  I am learning that my presence indeed matters not only to family and friends but also to God.  I know that He delights in my presence!   Alleluia!

I am realizing that a spin-off of practicing holy leisure is the gift of living fully in the present moment and seeing God’s grace being present in many situations and in others.  Gentle tears are often triggered by these treasured moments.

Through photographs I would like to share some of these special “moments of grace” which I have experienced this week.  May you experience God’s presence as you view them.

Ficilta Braak’s sister Joane’s 5 month-old-daughter, Maria Bell Christi, totally trusts her Mother’s friend, Wiguens.

Best friends Ryan (Ficilta and Tom’s) and Echo live fully in the moment.

Ryan unabashedly enjoys eating a mango followed by indulging in a bubble bath.

Ryan takes delight in making spaghetti from pipe cleaners, mud and stones.  Yummy!

Ryan plays “hide and seek” with a neighbor’s goat.

Ryan and cousin Mael enjoy companionship.


God’s presence be with you today and every day.

Love,

Larry




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All morning I have been driving one or the other trucks between Tom's current and his future home.  Hauling supplies, people, generator, water, rebar, etc.  I am taking a break for awhile but trying to make myself available to help Tom and Ficilta.

Ficilta went to St. Mark this am to buy backpack, etc. for Ryan in preparation for his first day of school on Monday.  This pm she attends her first class in baking.

Limene has been visiting her biological family for couple of days.  They live up and over several mountain passes and it takes 6 hours to walk as there are no roads.  She is scared to walk alone.  Her father accompanied her this am.  They started out walking about 6am and arrived at noon.  We just now gave him a coke, peanuts, water and $5 to buy lunch in the market.  Now he will return home.  Love in action!

I have attached three photos.  One is yours truly with the mountain pastor and his lovely wife, one is of Tom overseeing construction of their new home, and one is of the Braak's street.  On the left is the red steel sliding gate to their home.  As this is market day, the street is very active with vendors.
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Januray 12, 2013

All morning I have been driving one or the other FIAI trucks between Tom's current and his future home.  Hauling supplies, people, generator, water, rebar, etc.  I am taking a break for awhile but trying to make myself available to help Tom and Ficilta.

Ficilta went to St. Mark this am to buy backpack, etc. for Ryan in preparation for his first day of pre-school on Monday.  This pm Ficilta attends her first class in baking.  She hopes to establish a wedding catering business. 

Limene,  an 'adopted' daughter of Tom's,  has been visiting her biological family for a couple of days.  The family lives several mountains beyond Verrettes.  As Limene is frightened to walk alone, her father accompanied her this am.  They started out walking about 6am and arrived in Verrettes at noon.  We gave her father a snack and $5 to buy lunch in the market.  He will return home later this afternoon.  Love in action!

I have attached three photos.  One is yours truly with the mountain pastor and his lovely wife, one is of Tom overseeing construction of their new home, and one is of the Braak's street.  On the left is the red steel sliding gate to their home.  As this is market day, the street is very active with vendors.  I will relate more about a visit I had with the pastor in the future.

Blessings,

Larry

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Saturday, December 29, 2012



On December 9th I embarked on my journey.  I had arranged to live for ten days at The Hermitage retreat center near Three Rivers, MI.   On the way to The Hermitage I stopped in Kalamazoo to visit Marion Palmer, a dear friend of ours. Marion invited me to attend the worship service at North Presbyterian Church in downtown K-Z where she is a member.  The congregation there is very special.    Many of the members have unique and challenging needs.  I felt the presence of the Spirit in very tangible ways.  

Most of my time at The Hermitage was in silence, solitude and stillness.   There were interludes for daily community worship and optional spiritual direction. This retreat center is informally associated with the Mennonite tradition.  David and Naomi Wenger have been the co-directors for eleven years. 

Another interlude to my silent retreat was spending a most enjoyable day with Dan Kragt, M.D. and his staff in northern Indiana.  Dan is the son of Hazel Kragt of First Presbyterian Church of Grand Haven.  When Dan learned that I had an interest in learning more about the Amish people, he invited me to his clinic which serves mostly Amish families near Goshen, Indiana.

I intend to describe my experiences at North Presbyterian Church, at The Hermitage and at Dan's clinic in greater detail in future posts on this blog.

From Dec 18 through Dec 27 I was with son David, his wife Cindy and their two teen age daughters, Hannah and Rachael.  Hannah is in 11th grade at Ankeny High School and Rachel is a freshman at Central College in Pella, Iowa.  They are such fine and mature young women.  It was good to be with them.  They introduced me to several board games.  Much fun!  The family often is a foster family to animals from the local humane society.  Luna, a rabbit, currently resides with them.

I am now visiting daughter Susan and her family in Commerce City, Colorado.  I left the morning of Dec 27 from Ankeny, Iowa  hoping to drive one-half way to Susie's home.  However snow started to lightly fall late morning so I played it safe and stayed at a motel in Minden, Iowa).  On Jan 3 I will fly to Haiti to visit Tom and his family.  Tom is arranging for Jean Rony, a long-time employee of Faith In Action Int. and me to live in a mountainous community so that we will be able to observe and record with camera and pen the life of families that FIAI serves.

Upon returning to Denver on January 28 I will drive to the southwest to visit sanctuaries, relatives and friends as well as to camp in the desert.  My final trip plans are to be in Santa Fe, NM for a conference sponsored by the Center for Action and Contemplation featuring Franciscan priest Richard Rohr and psychotherapist Dr. James Finley--two of my 'heroes'.

May you have a most blessed  and joyous 2013.

Love,

Larry
 The Braak family in Ankeny, Iowa.  From left to right: Hannah, David, Rachel and Cindy. 

Rachel, Hannah and Cindy making cookies 
 The Braak's dog Bisquit
 My new friend, David Roberts, whom I met in Minden, Iowa.  He was stranded due to his truck breaking down and I was stranded by slippery highways.
 The Portillos' pets Bambi and Harley
The Hermitage retreat center near Three Rivers, MI where I stayed for ten days.
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Saturday, December 29, 2012



On December 9th I embarked on my journey.  I had arranged to live for ten days at The Hermitage retreat center near Three Rivers, MI.   On the way to The Hermitage I stopped in Kalamazoo to visit Marion Palmer, a dear friend of ours. Marion invited me to attend the worship service at North Presbyterian Church in downtown K-Z where she is a member.  The congregation there is very special.    Many of the members have unique and challenging needs.  I felt the presence of the Spirit in very tangible ways.  

Most of my time at The Hermitage was in silence, solitude and stillness.   There were interludes for daily community worship and optional spiritual direction. This retreat center is informally associated with the Mennonite tradition.  David and Naomi Wenger have been the co-directors for eleven years. 

Another interlude to my silent retreat was spending a most enjoyable day with Dan Kragt, M.D. and his staff in northern Indiana.  Dan is the son of Hazel Kragt of First Presbyterian Church of Grand Haven.  When Dan learned that I had an interest in learning more about the Amish people, he invited me to his clinic which serves mostly Amish families near Goshen, Indiana.

I intend to describe my experiences at North Presbyterian Church, at The Hermitage and at Dan's clinic in greater detail in future posts on this blog.

From Dec 18 through Dec 27 I was with son David, his wife Cindy and their two teen age daughters, Hannah and Rachael.  Hannah is in 11th grade at Ankeny High School and Rachel is a freshman at Central College in Pella, Iowa.  They are such fine and mature young women.  It was good to be with them.  They introduced me to several board games.  Much fun!  The family often is a foster family to animals from the local humane society.  Luna, a rabbit, currently resides with them.

On Dec 27 I said goodbye to the Ankeny Braaks and started out to visit daughter Susan and her family in Commerce City, Colorado.  I had  hoped to drive one-half way to Susie's home.  However snow started to lightly fall late morning which made the highway slippery.  I decided to stop after traveling only 120 miles.  I checked into a motel in Minden, Iowa, a village of a population of 300.  I met several interesting people at the local bar/cafe, at the grocery store and on the street.  It is my desire to meet daily one new friend and to invite him/her to share his/her story.  Thank you, Jerry (friend Jerry Nelson of Ferrysburg, Michigan) for giving me this idea and for living out this goal on your travels.   

After traveling for ten hours on Dec 28, I arrived at Commerce City, CO.  It is so good to see daughter Susie and her new family which consists of husband Mike, his two teenage sons Michael and Jeremy and dogs Harley and Bambi.  I last saw them five months ago when son Tom and his family from Haiti and I visited them.

 On Jan 3 I will fly from Denver to Haiti to visit Tom and his family.  Tom is arranging for Jean Rony, a long-time employee of Faith In Action Int. and me to live in a mountainous community so that we will be able to observe and record with camera and pen the life of families that FIAI serves.

Upon returning to Denver on January 28 I hope to drive to the southwest and visit additional sanctuaries as well as relatives and friends.   My final trip plans are to be in Santa Fe, NM for a conference sponsored by the Center for Action and Spirituality featuring Franciscan priest Richard Rohr and psychotherapist Dr. James Finley--two of my 'heroes'.

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